In an era defined less by territorial conquest and more by influence, education has become one of the most powerful tools of statecraft. Nations that shape how future leaders think, learn and engage with the world are quietly shaping the world itself.
For Australia, international education is often framed as an export industry worth billions – but it is far more than that. Education is one of Australia’s most under-utilised instruments of soft power and has the capability of strengthening regional security, diversifying our global identity and strengthening long-term influence across the Indo-Pacific and world.
Firstly, education allows Australia to export ideas, norms and institutional frameworks that shape governance and opportunity structures abroad. For decades, Western democracies have relied on the promotion of human rights, democratic governance and free markets to amplify their global message. Yet rhetoric alone rarely builds durable influence; rather it requires sustained engagement with tangible outcomes. China has understood this well. Beyond infrastructure investment across Africa and Southeast Asia, Beijing has heavily invested in education partnerships, scholarships and the global expansion of Mandarin language programs. Confucius Institutes operate worldwide, and thousands of students now choose to study in China rather than in traditional Western destinations. In regions with young and rapidly growing populations, these educational ties foster cultural familiarity and long-term networks that translate into diplomatic alignment.
Australia is able to achieve effective results without replicating China’s model. When students study in a country they form professional networks, develop cultural affinity and often carry those perspectives into future leadership roles. Many political and business leaders across Asia were educated in Australia, which is significant. That connection will pay dividends by shaping how Australia is perceived in moments of crisis or negotiation in all sectors, including trade, business and the arts. If Canberra wants to strengthen security frameworks and regional cooperation, investing in education partnerships is a strategic socio-economic decision that holds substantial potential.
Secondly, education offers Australia the opportunity to move beyond being grouped simply as an ‘English-speaking Western country’ and being frequently aligned by default with larger powers. Australia’s strategic identity has long been framed through alliances such as the United States and the broader Anglosphere. While those partnerships remain essential, they should not define the limits of Australia’s influence. Through education, Australia can project a distinct regional identity – one that is Indo-Pacific focused, culturally engaged and outward-looking.
This will require renewed investment in both attracting international students and looking for innovative ways to modernise the education system itself. Much of today’s education model still reflects structures designed during the industrial revolution: standardised pathways, siloed disciplinesand limited cross-cultural immersion. Yet the world students are entering is globalised, technologically complex and geopolitically dynamic. If Australia positions itself as a leader in innovative, globally integrated education by emphasising regional languages, climate security, development, and cross-cultural collaboration, it sends a message about the kind of socio-economic partner it intends to be. Our universities already rank highly among the world’s best, the question is whether Australia will choose to treat them as strategic assets. Increased public investment, stronger regional research partnerships, and curriculum reform that reflects contemporary geopolitical realities would strengthen both our domestic resilience and international credibility.
Third, soft power is not only about who comes to Australia, but also about where Australians go. The record demand for New Colombo Plan scholarships and exchange programs reflects a generation eager to engage with the region. This outward mobility is a strategic advantage. Students who study, intern and conduct research across Southeast Asia and the Pacific build the cultural literacy and networks that underpin long-term diplomacy and trade.
The current government has increased investment in regional security partnerships, which is a welcome step. But security is not built by defence policy alone. It is reinforced by people-to-people links. Expanding exchange programs, making study abroad more accessible and affordable, and strengthening two-way research collaboration would strengthen Australia’s regional integration in ways that military cooperation cannot achieve on its own.
Equally important is ensuring that international students in Australia have a genuinely positive experience. Rising tuition fees, housing pressures and limited access to in-person learning risk undermining Australia’s reputation. If students return home feeling exploited rather than welcomed, thelong-term diplomatic costs will outweigh short-term economic gains. Reducing financial barriers, investing in student support services and prioritising meaningful cross-cultural engagement would enhance Australia’s standing abroad.
Soft power is cumulative, with its outcomes paying dividends over time. The alumni of Australian universities have the potential to become ministers, diplomats, entrepreneurs and civil society leaders across the world. Their perceptions of Australia shape how our policies will be received and actioned. In a region increasingly contested by major powers, influence will belong not only to those who build ports and sign defence pacts, but to those who shape minds and nurture shared interests.
Australia already possesses the foundations of educational soft power: high-quality institutions, a multicultural society and geographic proximity to the world’s fastest-growing region – what is required now is strategic intent. If Canberra begins to treat education not solely as an export industry but as a pillar of foreign policy, it can strengthen both opportunity and security frameworks for decades to come.
Education is not just about classrooms. It is about influence, identity and the future architecture of the region Australia calls home.
Lucy Haley holds a Masters in International Relations and has studied global studies and languages, with a focus on Arabic, Chinese and Spanish. She has worked and volunteered across government, university, diplomatic, and NGO sectors and is passionate about foreign affairs, education, national security and cross-cultural communication.
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